Project Hope 2025 has once again demonstrated the extraordinary positive impact that Centennial College Police Foundations students can have through hands-on community engagement in Toronto. Now in its fourth year, the initiative brings together students from Centennial College’s Police and Public Safety Foundations Program and the Toronto Police Service 51 Division to support refugee children and families newly arrived in Canada through the donation of new toys.
"Many of these families have fled war-torn regions, often arriving with only the clothes on their backs," explains Howard Page, Program Coordinator for Police and Public Safety Foundations. "For many of these children, receiving a toy is not just a moment of joy—it is a first, hopeful introduction to a world of safety, care, and welcome in their new home."
About Project Hope 2025 at Centennial College
Project Hope was entirely student-led, organized by a committee and dedicated volunteers within Centennial College’s Police and Public Safety Foundations Program, offering students meaningful experiential learning in public safety and community service.
Their leadership culminated in a coordinated effort on Saturday, December 13, 2025, in Toronto, where students from the Project Hope Committee loaded the toys into a police property truck bound for 51 Division, ready for distribution. Twenty students, in full uniform, joined 51 Division officers in Toronto to meet nearly 1,000 refugee families. Working in close collaboration with the officers, they helped ensure that every child received a toy and left with a smile.
"It is important to note that many of these families come from places where trust in law enforcement is fragile or even absent," Howard says about the donations. "Through this act of kindness and hands-on involvement, these children experienced police officers and police foundations program volunteers as allies and guardians—an experience that can foster positive associations and inspire future service and partnership."
Why Project Hope 2025 Matters for Refugee Families and Police Foundations Students
The impact of Project Hope 2025 extends far beyond the joyful moments of gift-giving. While the children are the focus of Project Hope, Centennial College’s students also walk away with crucial lessons.
"This initiative has also been an invaluable learning experience for our students," explains Howard. "They witnessed firsthand the power of empathy, community engagement, and interagency collaboration. They learned the importance of approaching families with dignity, patience, and respect, and they carried these lessons back into their studies and future careers in public safety."
Project Hope 2025 reinforced the trust between communities and the police, just as it reinforced Centennial College’s commitment to social responsibility and public service excellence. Project Hope 2025 also highlights how Centennial College’s Police and Public Safety Foundations Program prepares students for careers rooted in service, leadership, and ethical community policing.
"Well done to every student who participated, to the Project Hope committee, and to the volunteers who dedicated countless hours to this cause," Howard concludes. "To our partners at 51 Division and the Toronto Police Service, your collaboration and support were integral to making this possible. And to our broader Centennial College community, let this year’s success inspire us to continue nurturing programs that empower students to lead with compassion and to serve with integrity."
By: Anthony Geremia